Page 72 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“Yes, Liliana is Xavier’s intimate. I guess soulmate would be the best description, but it is so much more than that,” my mom explains.

“No, that can’t be. She’s in enough danger already, so to be the soulmate of the heir of the warlock empire is just going to put an even larger target on her back.” Lila’s dad sounds desperate.

“They are too young. He can’t feed off of her exclusively. This has never happened before. Intimate bonds are not supposed to trigger until their late teens.” My mom sounds shocked.

“Maybe it’s because she’s in danger. You need to tell us more,” my dad says, pressing Lila’s parents.

The light dies down between us, and it’s obvious that neither of us have a clue what just happened. I’m looking at my parents for answers, but Lila starts to giggle.

“That was pretty, Xavar, do it again,” she says in a cute little voice, and I can see myself smile at her butchering my name.

“Go on, just sit over there so we can talk.” My dad points to a nearby tree.

I watch on in amazement, stunned at what I’m learning, as young me leads young Lila over to a tree where we sit down. I start to show her how I can make fireworks in my hand, which is the fun spell Dad just taught me, but luckily I was a nosy kid and I listened to the conversation.

“What do you mean she’s in danger already?” my mom asks Lila’s parents as the four of them take a seat at a nearby picnic table.

I’m assuming we’re on Earth, but I don’t remember ever going before I joined the circus.

“We’re being watched every time we leave the house.” Lila’s mom sounds so desperate.

“Do you know who it is?” my dad asks, leaning forward, but Lila’s dad shakes his head.

“No, we can never see or catch anyone, but I’m worried it’s going to escalate.”

“Why would they be watching you?” my mom inquires, looking confused, and Lila’s parents exchange a glance.

“Can you put up a sound barrier?” Lila’s mom requests, and I watch as my dad waves his hand and a barrier appears. They continue talking, but I can’t hear a thing.

Fuck! The meeting goes on for a little while, and I can see my parents’ shocked reactions to whatever Lila’s parents told them, but Lila herself draws my attention away as she claps and laughs.

“They are so pretty, Xavar, can I do that?” She goes to touch them, but I pull my hand away and the fireworks disappear. Her bottom lip drops and starts to tremble, and I see the look of panic cross younger Xavier’s face.

“No, no, don’t cry,” I beg her. “I didn’t want you to get hurt.” The lip stops trembling, and both younger me and current me breathe a sigh of relief.

Younger me wraps an arm around her shoulders and she snuggles into it. She looks up at my face as she traces a finger across my pointy ears.

At the time, I had no jewelry in them. I didn’t get any until I was older.

Her hand drifts to my cheekbones and the light markings on my skin. “You’re so pretty, Xavar, and so clever. I’m going to marry you when I get older, and then I can kiss you like Mommy kisses Daddy.” She drops her hand and rests her head on my shoulder as younger me wrinkles his nose in disgust, but I don’t say anything nasty to her. She closes her eyes and smiles as I watch our parents continue to talk.

How is this memory in Lila’s brain? It’s not actually hers butmine, I realize with shock. It’s all from my point of view. So not only have Lila’s memories been removed, but this one was deliberately planted, and it must have been one of my parents who did it.

Again, I almost drop the memory at that realization, but seeing the barrier lower, I quickly tune into what our parents are saying.

“Promise me that if anything were to happen to us, you will protect Lila,” her mother begs.

“Of course, Alina. We will raise her as one of our own,” my mom assures them, but Lila’s dad shakes his head.

“No, if the worst happens, wipe her memories and take away her powers. The safest thing for her would be to live as a nobody on Earth. Make sure you change her name so that my parents can’t find her either, because they will, and then the target will be on her back again,” Lila’s dad implores.

“But what about Xavier? Lila is his intimate. He willneedher.” My mom sounds upset.

“Your son has other options. He can have a harem. Lila’s life is more important.” He has a stubborn set to his jaw, but his wife puts a hand on his shoulder as my parents gear up to argue.

Thankfully, Lila’s mom is more reasonable than her dad. “Don’t be like that, Marcus. When Xavier is powerful enough and ready to find his intimate, you can tell him about her. Now that they have found one another, he won’t ever spark on anyone else, will he? I’m sure he will question you two about it one day, and then you may tell him.”

“Then yes, we will do as you have asked.” My dad sounds resigned, and that’s where the memory stops.